SME Leaders Forum, March 2026: ADAPT to Innovate – Leading Digital Transformation in SMEs
Leeds University Business School welcomed local business owners and senior leaders to Nexus on 10 March for the latest SME Leaders Forum – an afternoon focused on sharing insights and sparking ideas.
The SME Leader’s Forum event series is part of the Business School’s ongoing commitment to supporting SMEs across Yorkshire and beyond. SME leaders recently came together for ADAPT to Innovate – Leading Digital Transformation in SMEs, an event designed to help organisations translate digital ambition into measurable business impact.
Although AI and emerging technologies continue to dominate business conversations, speakers emphasised that genuine digital transformation extends far beyond adopting new systems or tools.
Insights shared from Leeds University Business School’s ADAPT Insight Report underscored that successful transformation relies as much on organisational culture as on technological investment. The report pointed to four essential factors for SMEs: developing leadership confidence, strengthening collaboration across teams, setting clear strategic goals, and embedding digital practices into everyday work.
The interactive workshop built on these findings, offering participants a practical forum to discuss real‑world challenges and exchange experiences. Rather than focusing on the latest tech trends, the session centred on helping leaders understand how to integrate digital change meaningfully and sustainably within their organisations.
Organisers reported that the event aimed to equip SME leaders with the tools and insights needed to move from digital intention to action – supporting performance improvement, business resilience, and long‑term readiness for an increasingly digital economy.
The event concluded with informal networking, allowing delegates to further discuss the insights shared and forge new connections.
We’ll be announcing details of the next SME Leaders Forum soon, so keep an eye on the Business School events page or follow us on social media to stay updated.
For more information about our Executive Education Programmes and future SME Leaders Forum events, please visit our website.
